Page 61 of Taken By the Highland Villain

All at once, he wanted to be far away from the room, from the curtains. More than that, he wanted to be away from all the little reminders of Valerie’s presence that hung around his castle.

He growled, then glared at both of them. “I’m goin’ to the river for a swim.”

“Please wait, Laird MacFinn.” The soft voice made all three of them turn.

Lady Ailsa stood there, her face pale.

Despite his frustration, Jude softened a little. “Aye. Ye need somethin’?”

“Nae me, Laird MacFinn. But Miss Blackwood. My braither is trappin’ her, and he’s usin’ all of us to do so, as well as her kinfolk.” She wrung her hands.

Jude felt a stab of unease. “What do ye mean?”

“He’s obsessed with Valerie. There’s a portrait he owns, and the woman in it happens to look like her. He’s been determined to own her, the same way he owns the painting, ever since he saw her, especially after she refused him the first time.”

Jude clenched his fists, his stomach churning in growing anger—this time directed at Nathan Cullen—as she continued.

“After my braither found out that she’d come to ye, he came to me, and nae just as an excuse to stay close. He kenned that for some time, I’ve had a lover. And that lover…”

“Is me.” Craig stepped closer and put an arm around her shoulders. “She’s the lass I’ve been seein’ for the past season and more. We met by accident, but when I saw what that beast was doin’ to her, and what kind of woman she was… I didnae mean to put the clan in jeopardy, My Laird, but I couldnae abandon her, nor ignore my heart when it chose her.”

“I see.” Jude knew he’d have to think about it later, but for now, he had other things on his mind. “And yer braither…?”

“He kenned. He threatened to expose Craig if I didnae bring Valerie to me under the guise of a dress fitting. And when she told him she was betrothed to ye, he ordered me to come here and spy on ye, to find out the truth of the matter, and to sabotage ye if necessary.”

So, even if Valerie had been willing to go along with my suggestion, the truth would have come out, and we would have been in a feud with MacAllister and MacOlley both, over her and Lady Ailsa.

Somehow, she kenned that. She guessed—guessed enough of the matter, at least. She left to protect us.

“There’s more. I overheard him talkin’ to my braither… He’s been forcin’ her hand by tellin’ her that if she doesnae agree to marry him, he will bring war to her kinfolk and leave her sister widowed, if he doesnae kill everyone and leave the clan gutted.”

Jude’s heart sank even further.

She left to protect her clan as well as mine. She hinted as much to me, with her worry for her sisters, and I was too stubborn to realize the truth. Nay… I didnae want to understand the real reason she couldnae accept my compromises, or the stakes she was fightin’ for.

I was a fool. A stubborn, bullheaded fool.

“Please, Laird MacFinn… I dinnae ken what my braither intends to do to Valerie, but I ken he will claim her, as he claims everything he sets his eyes on. And I ken what sort of man he is… He willnae be kind to her once he’s claimed her. My braither is far too much like my husband.” She lifted her arm to reveal the blue-black bruises on it.

Her meaning was clear. Nathan Cullen viewed Valerie as a possession, to be used and abused at his pleasure.

Jude felt anger and sickness roiling in his gut, indecision holding him there in the hall.

“I’m so sorry, My Laird. I should have told ye before. I should have been honest with ye and her. I just… I was so afraid… and…”

“I understand.” Jude shook his head. “Ye did what ye felt ye must.”

“Will ye help her? Save her?” Her large brown eyes, glistening with tears, gazed up at him, pleading, and his stomach clenched hard.

“He cannae. The only way to save Miss Blackwood would be to marry her, and the Laird has sworn never to marry.” Craig’s voice was cold, and his eyes were sharp and challenging as they met Jude’s.

Something inside him shattered into shards, as sharp and dangerous as the shards littering the floor. The coldness that accompanied even the thought of failure blended with the hot, sharp burn of anger, and a gut-twisting sensation that he could scarcely even recognize, let alone name.

Valerie gave herself to a monster to protect her clan and mine. She’s so small, nae a warrior, but she protected everyone with her words and her courage.

“Go tell the stablehand to saddle my horse.” His voice was cold, sharp as a blade.

“My Laird?” Craig’s eyebrow rose, an unspoken challenge and question in his eyes.